Bo Nix

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix has led the team to a surprising 3-2 start with three straight wins, but there are still concerns about his performance so far this year.

One opposing general manager told ESPN's Jeff Legwold, "[Nix] does a lot of things how Sean wants them done and he's shown some toughness. The accuracy worries you a bit because he's not pushing the ball downfield much and still the accuracy isn't always there ... but the rookies who play at that position have to be ready to fight through it because there will be plenty of things to fight through."

Nix has thrown for 866 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions while adding three rushing scores so far this season. However, he ranks 25th in the NFL by completing 61.8 percent of his passes, far below his NCAA-record completion percentage of 77.4 in his senior year at Oregon in 2023.

Despite the concerns from others around the league, the Broncos are not worried about Nix's early-season performance because they believe his best days are ahead of him.

"Bo is going to be alright, we just have to do what we have to do with him. ... He's going to be alright, you'll see," Denver veteran receiver Courtland Sutton said previously.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton, who routinely gets asked about Nix's confidence level amid his early struggles, said he believes the 24-year-old has the right attitude to be successful in the NFL.

"At some point we'll stop with the confidence [questions]," Payton said after the Week 4 win over the New York Jets. "The kid is confident. ... I should send him out to dinner with every one of you and you'll see."

It sounds like Nix has solidified himself as Denver's quarterback of the future. He will try to lead the Broncos to a fourth straight win on Sunday when they face the Los Angeles Chargers in an AFC West showdown.

After being selected No. 12 overall in the 2024 draft, Bo Nix joined the Denver Broncos following two impressive seasons with the Oregon Ducks, where he averaged 300 passing yards per game with a 75 percent completion rate.

While he has not yet posted the same type of stats in the NFL that he had in Eugene, the 24-year-old is actually producing much better numbers through five games than most previous Denver rookie quarterbacks.

Over five starts for the rookie, Nix has posted:

• 102-165 on passes, with a 62 percent pass completion

• Three passing touchdowns and four interceptions
• 866 passing yards
• 119 rushing yards with three rushing touchdowns

When compared to several other former Denver rookie quarterbacks, Nix's "rough start" does not seem so rough.

Brock Osweiler, No. 57 overall pick in the 2012 draft.  

Out of Arizona State University, Osweiler played in just five games his rookies season behind Peyton Manning, with zero starts.

Over his first five appearances, Osweiler posted:

• 2-4 with a 62 percent pass completions

• Zero touchdowns and zero interceptions
• 12 passing yards
• Negative 13 rushing yards  

Tim Tebow, No. 25 overall pick in the 2010 draft.

Tebow was drafted by the Broncos out of Florida, where he was a 2007 Heisman winner and a two-time national champion. During his rookie season, Tebow played in nine games, starting three for Denver.

Over his three starts during his rookie season, Tebow posted:

• 40-81 with a 49 percent pass completion
• Four passing touchdowns and three interceptions
• 651 passing yards 
• 199 rushing yards with three touchdowns and one fumble
  

Tebow played just three years in the NFL, two with Denver and one with the New York Jets, before retiring at 25 in 2012.

Jay Cutler, No. 11 overall pick in the 2006 draft.

Coming out of Vanderbilt, Cutler earned the 2005 SEC Player of the Year award before heading to Denver where did not see the field until Week 13, earning five starts in five appearances.

Over his first five starts Cutler posted:

• 81-137 with a 59 percent pass completion
• Nine touchdowns and five interceptions 
  
• 1,001 passing yards   
  

During his second season, Cutler improved to a 64 percent pass completion rate with 219 passing yards per game and 20 touchdowns.

Tommy Maddox No. 35 overall pick in the 1992 draft

Out of UCLA, Maddox entered his rookie season with just two college seasons under his belts. He did not play for Denver until Week 4, earning four starts over thirteen games.

Over his four starts during his rookie season, Maddox posted:

• 52-97 with a 54 percent pass completion
• Five touchdowns and eight interceptions 
• 560 passing yards 

With a rocky rookie season under his belt, Maddox was all but benched during his second season before being traded to two different teams, finally landing a long-term spot on the Pittsburgh Steelers where he won the 2002 Comeback Player of the Year and one Super Bowl in 2006.

John Elway, No. 1 overall pick in the 1983 draft. 

Elway was initially drafted by the Baltimore Colts before being traded to the Broncos. He spent four years at Stanford before staring 10 games for Denver and playing in 11.

Through his first five starts, Elway posted:

• 38-83 with a 46 percent completion
• One touchdowns and five interceptions
  
• 420 passing yards  
  

The Hall of Famer went on to play 16 years in the NFL, making the playoffs nine times, earning nine Pro Bowl appearances, winning the 1987 MVP and securing two Super Bowl titles with the Broncos.

Denver quarterbacks have famously struggled in their rookie seasons and while Nix may not be producing the numbers that fans had hoped for so far, he represents an improvement over past quarterback draft picks for the Broncos.

Bo Nix had an explanation for his animated sideline conversation with head coach Sean Payton.

The rookie quarterback was seen speaking with Payton after the Broncos sent out the punt team and appeared to be agitated.

Broncos HC Sean Payton and rookie QB Bo Nix had this exchange on the sideline after Denver punted in their last drive.

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/CxGDEA023i

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 6, 2024

Despite how the moment looked, Nix said that the interaction was simply the coach and quarterback expressing their appreciation for each other.

Bo Nix on his lively conversation with Sean Payton: "He turned to me and said 'I love you' and I turned to him and said 'I love you back'"

— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) October 6, 2024

Whatever was said, the Broncos had a strong day. Denver claimed a 34-18 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders and improved to 3-2 on the season. The team now sits in a tie for second place in the AFC West and looks like a team that could be in the mix for a postseason spot.

Nix had his best performance of the season, going 19-of-27 for 206 yards and two touchdowns. It was the third consecutive game in which he didn't throw an interception and he appears to be taking positive steps towards being a franchise quarterback for Denver.

The team hopes he can be that as it has cycled through quarterbacks at an alarming rate since Peyton Manning retired after the 2015 season. Denver utilized the No. 12 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on Nix, but his first few performances cast worry about his potential at the NFL level.

If he can perform like he did on Sunday, he will be fine and Payton appears ready to help guide the young single-caller as he continues his career.

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix and head coach Sean Payton had a heated exchange during Sunday's win over the Las Vegas Raiders.

After being forced to punt, Nix was seen obviously frustrated on the sideline, going back and forth with his coach.

Bo Nix and Sean Payton had an exchange after punting on their last drive 👀

(via @NFLonFOX)
pic.twitter.com/YyVwqRSQp3

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 6, 2024

Payton spoke about the interaction after the game.

"There's still a little bit of Ferris Bueller in this player that we got to get rid of," he said. "I'm talking about Bo, and I love him to death. Sometimes it's my love language."

Payton on the sideline exchange with Bo Nix:

“There’s a little bit of Ferris Bueller in this player.” pic.twitter.com/TtX3KNB4Ba

— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) October 6, 2024

More on the Ferris Bueller reference: (okay movie. Not my fave. Not nearly as good as Pitch Perfect 1 or 2). pic.twitter.com/sWyc8gUXXe

— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) October 6, 2024

While in some ways Payton's comparison to the iconic movie character could be a compliment, it seems as if he was saying the rookie quarterback moves to the beat of his own drum, which leads to moments like Sunday's outburst.

Payton and Nix's heated interaction was an unfortunate distraction from an otherwise solid day for the Broncos. Denver handled the Raiders 34-18, snapping an eight-game losing streak to Las Vegas.

Nix finished with 206 passing yards and three total touchdowns, bouncing back from a rough showing in Week 4 against the New York Jets. The No. 12 overall pick now has 866 passing yards and three touchdowns, also picking up 119 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

Nix and the Broncos started the season with a pair of losses, but have now won three in a row. Nix struggled to take care of the ball early, throwing four interceptions in his first two games, but he's eliminated those mistakes over the last three games, which has led to a winning streak.

Denver will look to continue its win streak next week as it takes on the Los Angeles Chargers, where Payton will hope to get a little less Bueller out of his quarterback.

After a stalled drive in the third quarter of Sunday's game between the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders, Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix visibly let his feelings be known to head coach Sean Payton.

The two of them were seen having an animated back-and-forth on the sidelines despite the Broncos holding a 20-10 lead:

Bo Nix and Sean Payton had an exchange after punting on their last drive 👀

(via @NFLonFOX)
pic.twitter.com/YyVwqRSQp3

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 6, 2024

Nix, Payton and the Broncos appear to be well on their way to their third straight win, so it's unclear what would cause such an exchange. Denver entered the year with low expectations, so moving to 3-2 with a win in an AFC West matchup should be enough to improve the team's morale.

Nix entered the game with subpar numbers of 660 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions while completing 60.1 percent of his passes. However, he played a blemish-free game entering the fourth quarter against Las Vegas.

Payton expressed confidence in Nix last week despite the rookie's slow start to the season.

"You're still looking for the perfect picture, the perfect game," Payton said Wednesday. "I know this Shangri-la doesn't exist, but the execution, the details still have to get better with younger players."

Nix looks to have taken those words to heart, as the Broncos are continuing to surprise many around the league with their recent run of success.

Denver will follow Sunday's game with another AFC West matchup in Week 6 against the Los Angeles Chargers, so a three-game win streak is sure to provide some confidence for Nix and Payton despite their brief spat on the sidelines.

Sean Payton's Denver Broncos and Bo Nix have faced offensive difficulties this season, with the defense shouldering much of the burden as the team sits at 2-2 through four games.

According to ESPN's Jeff Legwold, several league personnel executives have pointed out that team is struggling offensively in adjusting to nickel defenses, where the opposing team fields five defensive backs instead of four, leaving a significant gap in the Broncos' offense.

"The execution, the details still have to get better with younger players," Payton told reporters. "... I've said this before; if everyone else can paint the right picture, then you truly get to evaluate and watch a really good quarterback."

Nix and the Broncos rank last in the NFL in terms of using motion at or before the snap, with only 30.6 percent of their plays incorporating it, according to Legwold. They also sit at No. 23 in play-action usage, with a rate of 20 percent.

This angle of @SuttonCourtland’s TD 🤯 pic.twitter.com/37nD3MiuBu

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) September 30, 2024

Furthermore, the Broncos are tied for last in the league in total touchdowns, only finding the end-zone for four offensive touchdowns this season.

On the other side of the ball, the saving grace for the Broncos this season has been their defense, which ranks third in the league for fewest points allowed. This strong defensive performance has helped offset Nix's 660 yards and one touchdown over four games.

The Broncos will face the Las Vegas Raiders (2-2) on Sunday as they work to overcome their offensive struggles.

The Denver Broncos' road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, but quarterback Bo Nix and the AFC West team will be bringing the sunset to the afternoon showdown.

Denver revealed its Sunset Orange uniforms, which will be making their debut at Raymond James Stadium for the Week 3 clash:

The Sunset Orange debut 🔥#DENvsTB pic.twitter.com/ryi9Jet2MO

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) September 22, 2024

Sunset Orange debut coming 🔜 pic.twitter.com/uxTy4wsN3N

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) September 20, 2024

"The Broncos are wearing orange on the road because the Bucs have opted to wear their white jerseys for the Sept. 22 showdown, forcing Denver to wear its 'home' jersey in the Florida heat (the Broncos tried a similar strategy against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week without much success)," Jon Heath of USA Today's Broncos Wire explained.

Denver fans will get their first opportunity to see the jerseys at home when the team takes on the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers in Week 6.

The team certainly hopes the new look inspires better play, as it is 0-2 following losses to the Seattle Seahawks and Steelers in the opening two weeks of the season.

Nix's struggles adjusting to the NFL game has been part of the issue, as the rookie threw for 138 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions in the 26-20 loss to the Seahawks and followed that up by throwing for 246 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions in the Week 2 loss to the Steelers.

Nix threw the ball a combined 77 times in those contests, so perhaps the Broncos will look to establish the run and take some of the pressure off the rookie signal-caller against Tampa Bay.

As for the Buccaneers, they are off to an impressive 2-0 start with wins over the Washington Commanders and Detroit Lions. Baker Mayfield threw for five touchdowns in those contests and has thrived in the early going this season in his role as franchise quarterback.

Jayden Daniels looked like the No. 2 overall pick on Sunday, showing off the explosive potential that made him the second quarterback off the board but the inexperience that plagues most rookie signal-callers.

It was an uneven performance for the young quarterback in the 37-20 loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as he finished 17-of-24 for 184 yards through the air with no interceptions or touchdowns and two sacks taken.

He was far more dynamic as a runner, rushing 16 times for 88 yards and two scores.

There goes Jayden Daniels 💨

📺: #WASvsTB on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/qdQX6oxT1M

— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024

Jayden Daniels. Too fast.

📺: #WASvsTB on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/iqpKiJ9Tqu

— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024

Jayden Daniels runs it in for his first NFL TD!

📺: #WASvsTB on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/CFzj6rmj8z

— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024

Daniels undoubtedly showcased his ability to extend plays or break the pocket and reel off major gains. He also, at times, appeared to hold the ball too long and struggled to connect on routes down the field.

That earned him mixed reviews on social media, though the upside is hard to ignore:

Jayden Daniels is going to be really really good for a long time.

— Matt Leinart (@MattLeinartQB) September 8, 2024

the Jayden Daniels scrambles are cool and productive

but right now - it is the entire offense

that *must* change

— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) September 8, 2024

Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin should meet.

— Sam Farmer (@LATimesfarmer) September 8, 2024

Jayden Daniels' legs clearly a big help so far. Will need to get help from the WR's at some point. Don't want to see more hits to the head, tho has done a good job on other plays of avoiding contact.

— John Keim (@john_keim) September 8, 2024

Jayden Daniels already making me nervous with all this running.

— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) September 8, 2024

The Commanders have a ton of problems which we already knew… Jayden Daniels is not one of them.

— Delanté Cherry (@delantecherry) September 8, 2024

Commanders entire offense is Jayden Daniels scrambling when there’s nobody open.

— JC Cornell (@CornellNFL) September 8, 2024

This was coming a mile away. These two teams are in clearly different spots, right now, but you can see what the Commanders are trying to do and there’s plenty of hope with Jayden Daniels at the helm.

— Evan Winter (@evan_AtoZ) September 8, 2024

https://twitter.com/deven_tiwary/status/1832918792747294973

Jayden Daniels played the most conservative game i seen from a qb in his first game. Ig that’s better than taking risks and turning the ball over tho

— Sap (@JottoChild) September 8, 2024

The contrast between the rookie and a veteran like Baker Mayfield—who finished 24-of-30 for 289 yards and four touchdowns—was palpable. Such is to be expected given that experience gap.

And it certainly could have been worse. The top overall pick, Chicago's Caleb Williams, got a win in his first game but finished just 14-of-29 for 93 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. Bo Nix had a wild stat line, going 26-of-42 for just 138 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions in Denver's Week 1 loss, adding a rushing score.

Daniels is going to be entertaining this season given his explosive ability on the ground. Until he and the Commanders improve in the passing game, however, moving the ball consistently is going to be a struggle.

And it may all be a moot point if the Washington defense remains as hapless as it looked against Mayfield and the Bucs.